Cap and Wrist Warmers in Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 85 - 8929 - Downloadable PDF

Cap and Wrist Warmers Knitting Pattern in Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 85 – Design S8929

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Schachenmayr provides instructions for knitting a coordinating set of a cable-patterned cap and wrist warmers (Handstulpen) in Schachenmayr original Merino Extrafine 85, a luxuriously soft aran-weight merino wool yarn. The set is designed to be worked in the round, making it an excellent project for knitters who enjoy seamless construction and textured stitch patterns. The colorway specified in the pattern is Mittelgrau meliert (medium grey marl), shade 00292, giving the finished pieces a classic, versatile look suitable for everyday winter wear.

Materials and Tools

Both pieces in this pattern set are knitted using Schachenmayr original Merino Extrafine 85 in aran weight. The specific quantities required are:

• Cap: 150 g of Merino Extrafine 85 in Mittelgrau meliert (shade 00292)
• Wrist Warmers: 100 g of Merino Extrafine 85 in Mittelgrau meliert (shade 00292)

The recommended needles are Milward brand tools, specifically:

• A circular needle size 5.5 mm, 40 cm in length, for working the hat and wrist warmers in the round
• A double-pointed needle set (Nadelspiel) size 5.5 mm, used when transitioning to the crown decreases of the cap where fewer stitches remain

The Cap – Design and Construction

The cap is sized to fit a head circumference of approximately 50 to 54 cm, making it suitable for most adults. It is worked entirely in the round on a circular needle, beginning with a Kreuzanschlag (twisted or cross cast-on), which creates a neat, slightly elastic edge well suited to hat brims.

Structure and Stitch Pattern

The hat begins with 80 stitches cast on and joined to work in the round. The body of the hat is worked in a cable pattern (Zopfmuster), with the pattern repeat worked 20 times per round. The cable chart is worked over multiple rounds, and notably, increases are incorporated within round 7 of the cable pattern, bringing the stitch count up to 120 stitches. This technique of building increases into the cable round is a clever way to accommodate the natural draw-in of cable stitches while shaping the hat for a comfortable fit over the crown of the head.

After working 17 cm (38 rounds) from the cast-on edge, the crown shaping begins. The decreases are worked in a specific way that integrates with the cable structure: stitches are placed on a Hilfsnadel (cable needle or auxiliary needle) held to the front of the work, then stitches are knitted together as part of the decrease sequence before working the held stitches. This reduces the stitch count to 100 stitches. Following this, 7 rounds of plain stockinette stitch (knit every round) are worked before the knitter switches from the circular needle to the double-pointed needles to complete the final crown decreases, with stitches distributed evenly across 4 needles.

Techniques Used – Cap

• Twisted/cross cast-on (Kreuzanschlag) for a firm, elastic edge
• Knitting in the round on a circular needle with a round marker
• Cable pattern (Zopfmuster) worked from a stitch chart, reading all rounds from right to left as is standard for in-the-round knitting
• Increases incorporated into cable rounds to expand stitch count
• Cable needle (Hilfsnadel) used during crown decrease rounds
• Knit-two-together (k2tog / rechts zusammenstricken) decreases for crown shaping